CARLTON is undefeated after the first month of the season, comfortably accounting for Collingwood by 39 points.

Carlton was without its own young star, with Sophie McKay (ankle) a last-minute out, but it had no bearing on the final 10.8 (68) to 4.5 (29) victory at IKON Park.

Collingwood's backline did well to stand up to the onslaught of ball entering its defensive 50, but the weight of numbers (near double inside 50s in the first half) meant the floodgates were going to open at some point.

Poppy Scholz kicked two in a minute in the second quarter, while small Lila Keck also booted two in the first half, and finished with three for the game.

Pies skipper Schleicher was the threat forward of centre for her side, kicking Collingwood's entire half-time score of 2.3 (15) as they trailed the Blues by 13 points, and until Georgia Knight's point at the 16-minute mark of the last term, Schleicher looked like recording her team's entire tally.

Carlton put the foot down after the long break, driven by Claudia Whitfort in the stoppages and Mimi Hill streaming through the centre, while Collingwood's occasional forward entry was quickly snaffled up by the Blues' professional defence.

Erone Fitzpatrick's fine season on the wing and in attack continued with two third-term goals, while the resurgence of former Pie Nell Morris-Dalton was capped off with a major against her former team.

Carlton had far too many midfield options for the Pies to contend with, even with ex-defender Lucy Cronin trialled in the engine room for a second time this year, while Jess Good dominated the ruck duel against draftee Josie Bamford.

Harriet Cordner's push for back-to-back All-Australian inclusion continued with a fine performance behind the ball, while Fitzpatrick was a threat throughout.

Brit Bonnici battled hard alongside Airlie Runnalls, while Jordy Allen stood tall behind the footy and saved the Pies on numerous occasions, but the visitors were well and truly outplayed by the old enemy.

How far they've come

This was an eminently professional win by Carlton, one which three years ago would have been a far closer affair. The Blues are now not only expected to beat the Collingwoods of the AFLW, but to do so comfortably in order to shore up a top-four finish, and the four-quarter performance and improvement in the likes of the irrepressible Keck and hard-working Yas Duursma shows that Carlton is ready to mix it with the best.

Up next

Carlton has the biggest test of all, facing North Melbourne at Arden Street on Sunday. 

CARLTON                   1.2     4.4     9.6     10.8 (68)
COLLINGWOOD     1.1     2.3      3.4      4.5 (29)

GOALS
Carlton: Keck 3, Scholz 2, Fitzpatrick 2, Bohanna, Morris-Dalton, Goss
Collingwood: Schleicher 3, Carbone

BEST
Carlton: Hill, Whitfort, Cordner, Fitzpatrick, Good, Morris-Dalton
Collingwood: Bonnici, Allen, Schleicher, Runnalls